Abstract

Background

Heavy alcohol consumption during adolescence has many known harmful health and social
consequences and is strongly associated with numerous health risk behaviours. The
consequences of heavy alcohol use during adolescence on nutritional status, specifically
growth and weight status are largely unknown at this time.

Results

Lifetime alcohol dose, measured in standard drinks of alcohol, was orders of magnitude
higher in adolescents with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) compared to controls. The
AUDs group was selected to represent relatively 'pure' AUDs, with minimal other drug
use and no psychiatric diagnoses. The growth and weight status of adolescents with
AUDs were generally comparable to that of controls, and is in line with the growth
and weight status of the South African adolescent population. A greater proportion
of overweight/obese females was found in both groups, with this percentage tending
to be greater, although not significantly so, in the AUDs group. Adolescent females
with AUDs had increased odds of being overweight/obese compared to controls, after
adjustment for smoking, physical activity and energy intake.

Conclusion

Anthropometric indices of growth and weight status of participants in the Control
and AUD groups were generally comparable. Female adolescents with AUDs may have an
increased risk of being overweight/obese compared to adolescent females without AUDs.
The presence of an AUD in our adolescent sample was associated with higher energy
intake. Longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the effects of heavy alcohol
use on energy balance, growth and weight status in adolescents as they age. Nonetheless,
the current study contributes to our understanding of the impacts of heavy alcohol
consumption on important aspects of adolescent development.